Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2008

The State Party’s report was received by the World Heritage Centre on 31 January 2008, including a document entitled Plan de Protection et de Mise en valeur des sites archéologiques de Tipasa et de sa zone de protection (PPMVSA): Méthodologie d’approche et contenu de l’étude [Protection and management plan for the Archaeological Site of Tipasa and its Buffer Zone: Methodology and content], dated December 2007.

This document constitutes the terms of reference for developing the protection and management plan. It integrates this plan into the overall statutory protection and planning structure and identifies those aspects which are already in force or being planned. A work plan is outlined, in four phases:

a) Diagnosis and urgent actions;

Topographic and archaeological survey and outline of the PPMVSA;

Finalization of the PPMVSA;

Development of the overall management plan for the archaeological site, the town, and the countryside;

It is estimated that the first three phases will require 300 days for completion, up to 20 November 2008. The State Party submitted as well a « Fiche technique du projet de réaménagement du port de pêche et de plaisance de Tipasa » (Direction des travaux publics et de la Culture- Tipasa, janvier 2008), and the « Fiche technique de la station d’épuration et de traitement des eaux usées de la Wilaya de Tipasa » (Direction de l’hydraulique et de la Culture – Tipasa, janvier 2008). Indeed, within the framework of the sanitization of the Wilaya and the protection of the heritage of the archaeological site of Tipasa, a wastewater treatment plant was established and is operational since December 2007.

The World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies express concern that a more detailed plan with geographic coordinates delineating the property and its buffer zone has not been provided as requested by the World Heritage Committee at its 31st session (Christchurch, 2007).

Theinformation provided in the document related to the port does not allow an evaluation of the visual and archaeological impact of the proposed structures on the outstanding universal value of the property.

Draft Decision

32 COM 7B.56

Tipasa (Algeria) (C 193)

3. Expresses its satisfaction at receiving the well structured and comprehensive terms of reference for the preparation of the Protection and management plan;

4. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a report on the progress made with the completion and implementation of the Protection and management plan;

5. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2008, a map clearly displaying the delimitation of all components of this serial property, and its buffer zone, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009;

6. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, as soon as possible and prior to carrying out the work, the detailed design of the proposed port development showing its impact on the property;

7. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a progress report on the implementation of the above recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.

Draft Decision: 32 COM 7B.56

3. Expresses its satisfaction at receiving the well structured and comprehensive terms of reference for the preparation of the Protection and management plan ;

4. Requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a report on the progress made with the completion and implementation of the Protection and management plan;

5. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2008, a map clearly displaying the delimitation of all components of this serial property, and its buffer zone, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009 ;

6. Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, as soon as possible and prior to carrying out the work, the detailed design of the proposed port development showing its impact on the property ;

7. Requests moreover the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 February 2009, a progress report on the implementation of the above recommendations, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 33rd session in 2009.

* :
The threats indicated are listed in alphabetical order; their order does not constitute a classification according to the importance of their impact on the property.
Furthermore, they are presented irrespective of the type of threat faced by the property, i.e. with specific and proven imminent danger (“ascertained danger”) or with threats which could have deleterious effects on the property’s Outstanding Universal Value (“potential danger”).